Mail-box.



No, 731,804. PATENTED JUNE 23, 1903. A. R. MoGLELLAND.

MAIL BOX.

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I Patented june 23, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

ALVA R. MOOLELLAND, OF CLINTON, MISSOURI.

MAIL-BOX.

BPEGIFIOATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 731,804, dated June 23, 1903.

Application filed November 22,1902. Serial No. 182,498. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern):

Be it known that I, ALVA R. MCGLELLAND, a citizen of the United' States of America, residing at Clinton, in the countyof Henry,

1 State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Mail-Box to be Used on Rural Delivery Routes, of which thefollowing is a specification. 7

My invention relates to rural mail-boxes; and the same is to design an absolutely weather-tight mail-box of simple construction which will act automatically and be so easily operated that the route-man may easily deposit mail without even stopping his horse and that even a child who can but reach the bottom of the box may take mail therefrom with perfect ease and safety.

The simple and unique construction employed by me in carrying out myinvention is fully described in this specification and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective of my mail-box when open at the side. transverse section of the same when in a closed position. Fig. 3 is the head of the outer cyl-.

inder or mail-receptacle. Fig. 4 is a sectional View showing the head of the inner cylinder or cover. V

Like numerals of reference designate like parts in the different views of the drawings.

The numeral 1 designates'a cylinder having heads 2, a convex body 3, and a support 4.

The numeral 5 designatesa cylinder having heads Band a convex body 7. V

The convex body 3 is constructed of sheet metal and covers about one-half of the cylinder 1. Heads 2 are perferably metal or cast,

having outwardly-exten ding flanges, to which the body 3 is riveted. At the center of head i 2 is a hole 8, and near the circumference of same are holes 9 and 10. The convex body 7 is constructed of sheet metal, which covers about five-sixths of cylinder 5. Heads 6 have Fig. 2 is a verticallextends through the posts 15, (or any con venient meansby which the box may be suspended,) through the openingsfi in the heads 2, and the openings 11 in the heads 6, the inner cylinder 5 being slightly shorter and. slightly less in circumference than the outer cylinder otherwise fastened to heads 2 at the points 10..

18 is a small cylindrical metal weight which slides upon rod 4 from 10 to 10 and which when at the center of 4, as in Fig. 1, indicates the presence of mail and is a signal to route-man. This rod and weight also serve tobalance the outer cylinder and retain it withits open side down. WV hen not in use as a signal, it may be moved'out to point 10.

To look my mail-box any ordinary padlock or spring-lock may be inserted in opening 9 of head 2, which opening 9 is when box is in a closed position opposite depression 12 in the head 6 of the inner cylinder. The lock in passing through 9 will lit into 12, so as to prevent the cylinders from revolving, and thus bringing the open sides together.

. Instead of weight 13 in head 6 head 6 may be made heavier onthe lower than on the upper side of this circular end. Also head 2 may be made heavier at the lower than the upper side-viz., at 17 heavier than at 18.

I do not wish to be limited as to details of construction, as these maybe modified in many particulars without departing from the spirit of my invention. 1 i

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-

1. In a mail-box, the combination of two open-sided cylinders pivoted to revolve one within the other, a weight on the open side of the outer cylinder and a weight 011 the closed 1. The bolt 01' shaft l lalso extends through two thin metal washers 16, which are placed side of the inner cylinder, said Weights cylinders pivoted to revolve one Within the adapted to bring the said cylinders automatother, the head of the inner cylinder having ically into position to close the box. a depression 12, and the head of the outer 2. In a mail-box, the combination of two cylinder having an opening 9, said depres- 15 5 cylinders, pivoted to revolve one within the sion and opening, being adapted to receive a other, a brace-rod extending between the lock, whereby the box is locked in a closed ends of the outer cylinder, a signal mounted position.

to slide longitudinally on the brace-rod, said I ALVA R. MCOLELLAND. rod and signal being adapted to serve as a WVitnesses: o weight to balance the outer cylinder. 0. F. NISELBEY,

In a mail-box, the combination of two J. D. OARNEY. 

